Sorry for the question, I have searched the forums and am unclear on this issue (I am a newbie anxiously awaiting the T-Mo 8700)- When I travel to Europe with this device, will I be able to access email and the web, and how much will it cost? I understand the Int'l phone roaming charges, not the data ones.

Not a data question, but I wonder what people recommend for voice calls while in Europe. I was thinking I could swap in a prepaid SIM card from a local carrier (I'm going to France and UK) for voice (and use TMO's international data service as described above for email/web) but wasn't sure which GSM carriers are the best. I'm also a little disappointed that TMO, with its German parent, doesn't seem interested in providing me a solution.

Just use Tmo - your sim will then access a partner service wherever you are in Europe. It'll carry a charge, which will vary depending on which country you're in; but better than constantly changing sims, if you're moving around between countries.

If you're staying in one place in Europe, then buy a cheap pay as you go phone when you get there, and put a message telling your callers this interim phone number on your bb voicemail. Cheapest way.

__________________Asianmaze

"There is something about jumping a horse over a fence, something that makes you feel good." William Faulkner

Sure, I understand I'll get a connection but then Ill be paying TMO-US's exorbitant roaming charges. I'm going to be in France for 3 weeks and it's worth it to me to swap SIMs if someone can suggest the best carrier. It's one of the reasons I stay with TMO here. Thanks.

As NJB points out (which you seem willing to do) you'll have to swap the SIMs whenever you want to use the TMo data roaming. As for cheap prepaid (voice) SIMs there are lots of places online that sell them, or you can buy one when you land...

NJBlackBerry's method is the one that I generally do. Get a local SIM with a cheapie phone for phone and keep your BB on original carrier SIM for data stuff.

I agree with you. Get local Sim. Your saving on phone bill can buy two more 8700s easy. My last year's one week business trip in France and Germany etc.. cost about $2,500.00 USD on Cingular phone bill with about 7 hours of conversation back to office

I think I'm in violent agreement with just about everybody! Whether I pop the local SIM card into my new BB or into the old tri-band Samsung phone the BB will be replacing doesn't really matter to me. Either way I'll use the BB with the TMO SIM card for data, as I wrote in my first post. I just wondered if anyone had particular recommendations as to which local GSM carrier to use.